Headlines

  • Rockies Sign Charlie Blackmon To One-Year Extension
  • Reds Sign Nick Krall To Extension, Promote Him To President Of Baseball Operations
  • Giants Fire Gabe Kapler
  • Orioles Agree To 30-Year Lease At Camden Yards
  • Padres Prefer To Retain A.J. Preller, Bob Melvin In 2024
  • Brooks Robinson Passes Away
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2023-24 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2024-25 MLB Free Agent List
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Arbitration Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Tyler Matzek To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

By Steve Adams and Darragh McDonald | October 12, 2022 at 12:25pm CDT

Braves left-hander Tyler Matzek, who was left off the NLDS roster due to elbow discomfort, is undergoing Tommy John surgery today, manager Brian Snitker announced to reporters (Twitter link via Jeff Schultz of The Athletic). Given the timing of the surgery, Matzek will likely miss the entire 2023 season as well.

There’s never really a good time for a baseball player to undergo go Tommy John and then have to spend 12-18 months recovering, but the timing here is especially unfortunate for both Matzek and the team. After winning a fifth-straight NL East crown, the club just began its postseason run yesterday, leaving Matzek off the roster. Now that the prognosis is known, Matzek can be ruled out of the entire playoff run and then some.

2022 was his third season with Atlanta after a lengthy absence due to “the yips.” He pitched for the Rockies in 2014 and 2015 but then dealt with control problems so bad that he was relegated to the minors for chunks of the 2016-2019 period, including missing the 2017 season entirely and pitching in indy ball in 2018. He eventually made his way back to the majors and established himself as a useful piece of the Atlanta bullpen. From 2020 to the present, he’s thrown 135 2/3 innings with a 2.92 ERA, 38.2% ground ball rate and 27.4% strikeout rate, despite a high 13.4% walk rate.

In addition to that strong work in the regular season, Matzek has shown a knack for taking things up a notch in the playoffs. In 2020, he threw 8 2/3 innings with a 1.04 ERA and followed that up with a 1.72 mark in 15 2/3 frames last year, playing a big role in helping Atlanta grab their first World Series title since 1995. Unfortunately, he won’t get a chance to build on his track record of postseason heroics here in 2022. Without Matzek, the club will charge ahead in their attempt to repeat as champions with A.J. Minter and Dylan Lee as their only lefty relievers.

Looking ahead to next year, Matzek, who turns 32 next week, is eligible for arbitration again after earning $1.4MM here in 2022. He will be due a raise for 2023, with MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projecting his salary to come in around $1.8MM. The team could consider not tendering Matzek a contract since he likely won’t be able to contribute at all in 2023. However, if they did tender him a contract, they would still be able to control him for 2024. Since Matzek will likely miss the entire season, he wouldn’t be able to push his 2024 salary much beyond his 2023 number, if at all. Players who are free agents but about to embark on a significant absence will often sign two-year deals with the signing club aware they won’t see a return on their investment until the second half of the deal, and Matzek’s final two arb years could effectively function in that way if the Atlanta front office considers him worth the gamble.

Share 0 Retweet 12 Send via email0

Atlanta Braves Newsstand Tyler Matzek

Twins Outright Devin Smeltzer, Jhon Romero
Main
Offseason Outlook: Texas Rangers
View Comments (45)

Comments

  1. kohlippit

    12 months ago

    Mickey Mouse Arm

    1
    Reply
    • SalaryCapMyth

      12 months ago

      What? Pitchers get TJ surgery all the time.

      5
      Reply
  2. Idosteroids

    12 months ago

    Brutal. For those wondering he has two more years of team control. Arb 3 and 4 years in 2023 and 2024

    4
    Reply
    • Mets6986??

      12 months ago

      That takes him until he can pitch again. I guess they pay him to pitch for someone else in three years.

      Reply
      • NashvilleJeff

        12 months ago

        Typical 6986. Has no idea that typical TJS recovery time is 12-14 months.

        Reply
        • Mets6986??

          12 months ago

          It takes two years to get back to what you were. Studies have been done and the actual average return time is 20 months.

          Reply
    • Hippyripper

      12 months ago

      This is a pretty big blow to the Atlanta relief corps, especially for October baseball. Matzek has been nasty, flat nasty in the post season for them

      Reply
  3. bravesnation nc

    12 months ago

    Ughhh, terrible for this guy. Extra workload last year didn’t help. Get better Tyler.

    5
    Reply
  4. fred-3

    12 months ago

    It’s very tough to repeat, folks

    3
    Reply
  5. hereallnight

    12 months ago

    Off-topic: I know Trade Rumors ownership/management can’t fully control the ads which run on the app, but the video ones which cancel out audio (music; podcasts) concurrently streaming from other apps are irritating.

    7
    Reply
    • whatwouldyogido

      12 months ago

      It makes me use this app less.

      1
      Reply
    • SalaryCapMyth

      12 months ago

      For all we know those ads pay them the most. I would understand in that situation.

      1
      Reply
    • Hippyripper

      12 months ago

      I’ve not experienced a video ad yet… you must be lucky?

      Reply
    • NashvilleJeff

      12 months ago

      Why don’t you pay for the service this site provides before complaining about it?

      Reply
  6. bravesnation nc

    12 months ago

    Indeed it is hard. Honestly I didn’t expect them to get it last year. This year with the workload to win it all in 21 I expected players to be hurt and some regression. Playing that long and what it took to do it takes a toll. However, yesterday’s loss was about the Phils executing and they played clean baseball. Braves didn’t do that even with Fried not being himself. No excuses just facts. Win with class and loss with that same class!

    2
    Reply
    • NashvilleJeff

      12 months ago

      Agree nc. The Phils played fired up baseball. Our Braves didn’t. They deserve to advance. Good luck to them and their fans.

      Reply
  7. DarkSide830

    12 months ago

    That sucks after everything he already had to go through.

    4
    Reply
    • TheREALMetsFan22

      12 months ago

      Make millions?

      Reply
      • BravesCanada

        12 months ago

        This is his first season making more than 800k

        5
        Reply
      • bhambrave

        12 months ago

        Metsfan22, you never fail to fail.

        7
        Reply
      • DTD/ATL1313

        12 months ago

        You get more useless with every comment

        5
        Reply
      • Hippyripper

        12 months ago

        Bro… did you not read the part where it said he missed all of 2017 then played indy ball in 2018 to make it to the show after shwoing up then having massive control issues in 2016? He’s delt with the yipz too? Wish I could struggle for that long to finally make 800k in a year to have some dip stick say some ignorant garbage about how I make millions…. that was 7 years ago lol what a fool

        2
        Reply
        • NashvilleJeff

          12 months ago

          We expect no less from 22 and books. Typical no class Mets trolls. What kind of jerk takes joy in seeing another injured? Answer: The jealous, no class, miserable kind……….

          Reply
  8. LordD99

    12 months ago

    ‘Tis the season.

    Reply
  9. dirty617water

    12 months ago

    I could see AA going after Taylor Rogers during the off-season. Lefty in the back of the bullpen with success as a closer.

    1
    Reply
    • Idosteroids

      12 months ago

      Other lefties MInter, Lee…focus should be on RH’ers. Day, Jackson, Chavez, and Jansen gone after this season. Either way bullpen will look much different next year.

      1
      Reply
  10. Senioreditor

    12 months ago

    If he had only received a copy of Grays Sports Almanac from the future, he could have avoided this!

    2
    Reply
    • hittahomer

      12 months ago

      It only ran through 2015, Biff. Wouldn’t have helped in this instance

      Reply
      • Hippyripper

        12 months ago

        Damn! That’s because the Astros stole it from the production and used it in 2017

        1
        Reply
  11. Rsox

    12 months ago

    Tough break for Matzek and a big blow to the Braves, not only for the rest of this postseason but next season as well

    2
    Reply
    • Smacky

      12 months ago

      He hasn’t been anything like he was during last season’s World Series run. He hasn’t been used in many high leverage situations when he’s been healthy enough to pitch. If they’re ahead after 5 and the starter isn’t throwing great they’ll go McHugh, Minter, Iglesias, Jansen – Matzek wasn’t getting any of those innings.

      1
      Reply
  12. Cash-man

    12 months ago

    “Useful piece”

    Reply
  13. SamtheMan!

    12 months ago

    3.6MM for a one year deal post TJ essentially.

    Not sure they’ll do it. They do at least have FA’s coming off the 40 man and not a terribly strong farm to protect but could be the last we see of him in ATL.

    Reply
    • bhambrave

      12 months ago

      I could see them giving him a two-year contract, at or below $1M for next year and around $1.5M in 2024. He’d do his rehab through the team and be ready for 2024.

      1
      Reply
      • Mets6986??

        12 months ago

        He won’t be ready for 2024.

        Reply
        • bhambrave

          12 months ago

          Seventeen months before pitchers and catchers report. He could be ready.

          1
          Reply
        • Mets6986??

          12 months ago

          Hopefully for him he is but it usually takes two years too get back to what you were.

          Reply
    • Hippyripper

      12 months ago

      Cardinals cut bait with Trevor Rosenthal when a similar situation happened

      Reply
  14. Dumpster Divin Theo

    12 months ago

    Beats Tommy John having Tyler Matzek surgery

    Reply
    • Hippyripper

      12 months ago

      I wish this could happen, but only because it means someone figured out time travel

      1
      Reply
  15. bravesfan

    12 months ago

    Hate to say it… but he looked rough this year, he won’t be back until he’s almost 34 right? And he’s put on some lbs in less than a year. Might be time to let him go. That said, he’s earned way more than he’s been paid, so I hope the Braves do the right thing for the right reason and pay/rehab him. But wouldn’t shock me if they let him roll. Maybe the just renegotiate a contract with him for a lower contract this year and pay him a bit more the following season. Ie a half a mil to 1 mil in 2023 and 2.5-3 mil in 2024

    2
    Reply
    • NashvilleJeff

      12 months ago

      Has to be more than a half mil. Minimum ML salary was 700K for 2022..

      Reply
  16. DodgerOK

    12 months ago

    He’s a lefty. If he is breathing, someone will sign him.

    1
    Reply
  17. HEHEHATE

    12 months ago

    Man what a blow. I love matzek. Hoping for the best for ya Tyler.

    1
    Reply
  18. Mercenary.Freddie.Freeman

    12 months ago

    Acuna playing bad baseball again. Not backing up the centerfielder earlier resulting in a inside the park home run. Letting a ball drop in between him and Harris he should’ve caught then bobbling a ball in the 6th inning. Hopefully Snitker gives him a earful. Looks like Eric Young Sr said something.

    1
    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.

Log in Register

ad: 300x250_1_MLB

    Top Stories

    Rockies Sign Charlie Blackmon To One-Year Extension

    Reds Sign Nick Krall To Extension, Promote Him To President Of Baseball Operations

    Giants Fire Gabe Kapler

    Orioles Agree To 30-Year Lease At Camden Yards

    Padres Prefer To Retain A.J. Preller, Bob Melvin In 2024

    Brooks Robinson Passes Away

    Reds’ Matt McLain Shut Down For Remainder Of 2023 Season

    Padres Plan To Reduce Payroll To Around $200MM; Front Office Changes Possible

    Marlins Place Eury Perez On 15-Day Injured List, Select Jeff Lindgren

    Sandy Alcantara Shut Down For Rest Of 2023 Season

    Brandon Lowe To Miss 4-6 Weeks With Kneecap Fracture

    Rays Promote Junior Caminero

    Sean Doolittle Announces Retirement

    Tigers Name Jeff Greenberg General Manager

    Qualifying Offer Value To Land Around $20.5MM

    Shohei Ohtani Undergoes Elbow Surgery

    Marlins Claim Matt Moore From Guardians

    Rays To Announce New Stadium Deal

    Reds Designate Hunter Renfroe For Assignment

    Shohei Ohtani Out For Season With Oblique Strain

    Recent

    Twins Release Dylan Floro

    Rockies Sign Charlie Blackmon To One-Year Extension

    Reds Sign Nick Krall To Extension, Promote Him To President Of Baseball Operations

    Zaidi: Giants Hopeful Of New Managerial Hire By Start Of Free Agency

    Giants Fire Gabe Kapler

    D-Backs Release Zach Davies

    Rangers Place Jon Gray On Injured List

    Brewers Select Caleb Boushley, DFA Julio Teheran Amid Flurry Of Roster Moves

    Tigers To Hire Miguel Cabrera As Special Assistant Following 2023 Season

    Nationals Activate Tanner Rainey From 60-Day IL

    ad: 300x250_5_side_mlb

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Shohei Ohtani Rumors
    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Go Ad-Free
    • 2023-24 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2024-25 MLB Free Agent List
    • MLB Player Chats
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    ad: 160x600_MLB

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • Feeds by Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    hide arrowsFOX Sports Engage Network scroll to top

    Register

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version